Crock c. 1938

Elsie Wein’s ‘Crock’ is a drawing of utilitarian stoneware that asks us to consider the intersections of domesticity, craft, and gender in American life. Wein, working in a period where women artists were often relegated to "minor" genres such as still life and decorative arts, elevates this common household object to a subject worthy of artistic attention. This is more than just a picture of a jar; it reflects the cultural values associated with home and labor. The simple, yet elegant, floral design on the crock speaks to the artistic expression found in everyday life. There is an element of quiet resistance in the act of documenting such a piece, as if to say, ‘these objects, and the lives connected to them, are important.’ Wein draws attention to the beauty and functionality inherent in this vessel. It serves as a reminder of the labor, often invisible, that sustains our lives.